Sheet metal working device



Dec. 18, 1951 R, L HQLLAWAY 2,579,188

SHEET METAL WORKING DEVICE Filed June 18, 1949 FIE f5 f4 f/ j? 4 z5 .72 s 54 j; INVENTOR j, I 5.35/ i F05/ l. /d//a//l/ag/ 5 f BY gli 44 l 2 MM j E; @mg-" FIE E F1E 3 Patented Dec. 18,v 1951 SHEET METAL WORKING DEVICE Roy Lee Hollaway, San Francisco, Calif., assignor of thirty per cent to Manfred M. Warren, Oakland, Calif.

Application June 11,8, 1949, Serial No. 100,070

f 7 Claims.

l The invention relates to machines and tools for straightening or otherwise working into desired form of sheet metal or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet metal Working device of the character described which is broadly adaptable for working a wide variety of shapes and forms of sheet metal having dented or damaged contours, for the purpose of restoring such forms to their original flat or curved configuration, as the case may be.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character above which obviates the customary pounding or hammering of the .material being worked, with its attendant severe noise and 'hammered indentations and stretching of the material, and substitutes in its stead a rolling and working action which is rapid and quiet and functions to ilow the material into its original contour, therebyv restoring the surface to a smooth finish substantially free from indentations, ripples or other surface distortion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sheet metal working device of the character described which is readily portable and easily and quickly applied to various sheet metal parts to be worked such as fender and body portions of an automobile, and which is conveniently powered by a source of compressed air customarily found in garages, body shops, and the like. y Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character above which may be easily handled and efciently and properly operated by a workman with a minimum of training, and is fully adjustable and quickly responsive in the hands of the operator in the course of operation of the machine over adjacent portions of the sheet metal being worked wherein the several portions have various types of damage or distortion.

The invention possesses other objects Land features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing` will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form cf the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, shown partly :ln section, of a sheet metal working device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the device illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the device taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure V3.

The sheet metal working device of the present invention consists, briefly, in the combination of a work-holding element and roller arranged for clamping on the opposite sides of sheet metal to be worked with the periphery of the roller positioned against the work and wherein the roller is journalled for rotation aboutits longitudinal axis so as to roll upon the work surface. In this manner, dents, creases and other surface distortions are rolled and worked out so as to restore the sheet to its originalcontour.

With reference more specifically to the accompanying drawing, the device preferably utilizes a plurality of such rollers here arranged in roller assembly 6 which ls supported at one end 1 of a frame 8 in generally opposed relation to a workholding element `9 carried at an opposite end II of the frame. The frame as illustrated in Figure 1 is preferably of open, generally -C-shaped form so as to permit a ready positioning of the roller assembly 6 and the work-holding element 9 on opposite sides of the sheet metal to be worked and at a position somewhat removed interiorly from an edge of the material.

rfhe roller yassembly 6 preferably consists of a pair of rollers I2 and I3 desirably of identical form and diameter journalled for rotation in coaxial relation on a common shaft It and held in axially spaced relation by a sleeve I6 mounted on the shaft I4 between the rollers I2 and I3. The rollers thus supported are carried for rotation in the plane of their common axis by the mounting of the opposite ends of the shaft I4 in the spaced legs I'I` and I8 of a @levis-type bracket 20 having a side I9 connecting the legs vI'I and I3 and secured to the drive shaft 2l of a motor 22, the shaft 2| being connected to the bracket centrally between the legs I'I and I8, with the axis of rotation of the unit substantially intersecting the axis of the shaft I4 and passing approximately midway between the rollers I2 and I3.

, Any suitable motive power may be used for driving the roller assembly. Desirably, due to the requirement for sometimes positioning the motor ahead of the unit in a relatively restricted space, 'the motor should be kept as small vas is con- Sistent with needed power. .A conventional-type air motor is very satisfactory 4for this purpose and may be obtained inl small sizes having sufcient power for the purposes here required. Since such air motors are widely used in the art and their construction well known, no detail of construction is shown in the drawing.

In various types of metal straightening, such as encountered in automotive fender and body Work, it is desirable to provide a plurality -of frames of ldifferent sizes affording diiferencesin the positioning of the operating heads of the tool. For this reason,y the motor and roller assembly unit is preferably detachably secured to the frame end 1. Such construction is here Veffected by maintaining the motor within a casing 23 which is in turn fastened to a sleeve 24 detachably and telescopically mounted over the frame end 1. Pins 26 may be used to hold the unit in assembled position on the frame end 1. Motive power for the air motor 22 is usually conveniently obtained from a compressed air source, in a garage, body shop, or the like. As here shown, an air inlet conduit 21 is provided with a branch conduit 23 which leads to the motor 22, a manually controllable air valve 29 being preferably inserted in the line near the motor. Also, since itI is desirable to detach the motor for connection to other frames, a detachable pipe connection 3I, is preferably provided in the branch line 28.

As a feature of the motor head construction,

`the casing 23 is preferably extended from the motor 22 so as to alsol enclose vthe motor shaft 2l and a portion of the roller assembly. In this manner, only approximately half of the diameter of the rollers I2 and I3 projects from the open end of the casing, and the casing thus serves as -aguard to prevent the striking of the bracket and the rollers against proximately located objects during the rotation of the roller assembly.

The work-supporting element 9 is also preferably of roller construction-and includes an assembly of a plurality of rollers 32 of identical form anddiameter mountedin side by side relation and journalled for rotation on a common shaft 33. This assembly of rollers, like the rst roller assembly, is supported for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 33. As will be seen from the drawings, the opposite ends of shaft 33 are mounted in spaced legs 34 and 35 of a clevis-type bracket 31 having a connecting side 38 xed to a shaft 39, the shaft being attached to the side 38 substantially midway between the bracket ends 34 and 36 and having an axis substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of shaft 33.

When not in use, the roller assemblies 6 and 9 are normally retained in spaced opposed position as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing, so as to permit the ready positioning of these opposed units on opposite sides of the sheet metal to be worked. Means is provided for moving the units together to clamp them on opposite sides of the portions of sheet metal 40 to be worked, such as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. As a feature of the present construction, this clamping means provides a resilient, yieldable pressure of the roller assemblies on the work so as to most eiTectively iron out indentations, creases or other deformities. The function of displacing one of the units to obtain a clamping .of the material between the units and the resilient and yieldable pressure applied to the material is here obtained by the mounting of the work supporting element 9 upon a pneumatic actuator 4I carried on the end II of the frame. As here shown, the actuator comprises a casing 42 affording an interior air cylinder 43 within which is mounted for reciprocation a piston 44. The cylinder 43, is provided with a head end 46 having an air opening 41 leading to the cylinder and tted exteriorly with a connector 48 having an air supply line 49 here carried within the frame 8 and extending out of the frame adjacent to the opposite end for connection to a conduit 5I, in turn connected to the supply conduit 21. A manually controllable air valve 52 is desirably provided in the line 5I.

The piston 44 is preferably fitted with a conventional-type cup washer 53 at its lower end and is retained within the opposite end of the cylinder by a collar 54 threaded onto such cylinder end and tted about the piston. A washer 55 carried on the lower end of the piston is arranged for engagement with the collar 54 to limit the outward displacement of the piston from the cylinder.

Preferably, the pneumatic actuator is also detachably secured to the frame and as here shown the casing 42 is provided with a depending threaded skirt 51 which may be threadably attached to and detached from the frame end I I.

Preferably, the work-engaging element 9 is carried by the pneumatic piston 44 at the outer end 58 of the piston. As here sho-wn, the piston is provided with an end bore 59, see Figure 2, for receiving and journalling for rotation the bracket shaft 39. An anti-friction thrust bearing 5I is'desirably positioned between the end 58 of the piston and the bracket side 38. A set screw 62 may be provided adjacent the outer end of the piston and entering a peripheral recess 63 in the shaft 39 for retaining the work-supporting element in connected position on the piston.

In starting to use the device,` the valve 52 Will be closed and the piston 44 and work-supporting element 9 retracted into spaced relation from the roller assembly S as illustrated in Fig.

ure 1, it being noted that when the Valve 52 is closed the piston may be manuallyinserted into the cylinder 43. The device may then be positioned to locate the opposed roller assemblies on opposite sides of the damaged portion of sheet metal Vto be worked. Thereupon, the valve 52 is opened to eject the air piston 44 and firmly clamp the Work between the roller assemblies 6 and 9. Since the ejection of piston 44 is rapid and accompanied by considerable force, the initial impact of the work-supporting element 9 may be utilized as an air jack or air hammer so as to obtain a desired deflection of the sheet metal. As will be understood, when the sheet metal portion to be worked has been thus clamped between the roller assemblies. valve 29 is opened so as to initiate rotation of the roller assembly 6. By reason of the construction above described, the rollers I2 and I3 of this assembly are caused to traverse a circular pattern during the course of which the rollers forcibly bear and roll upon the work. At the same time, the opposite roller assembly 9 is free to swivel and will constantly and automatically orient itself to press out protuberances on its side of the sheet metal and to also aiTord maximum work support for1 the roller assembly 6 being power-driven at the opposite side. This combination is highly effective in rolling, pressing and otherwise working the material into its original contour and leaving the work surfaces very smooth and substantially free from indentations, ripples and other distortions. By easy manipulation of the operator the device may be used to restore surfaces of substantially any of a wide variety of shapes from at to rounded contours. Of importance is the fact that the damaged portions are quickly worked into theirfsmooth original contour without any noticeable stretching of the metal. Since the device does not function by hammering or pounding of the metal, the very severe noise attendant on the use of a conventional air hammer or the like is completely obviated.

I claim:

1. A sheet metal Working device'Y comprising,

a pair of rollers, means journalling said rollers for rotation about their axes and supporting the peripheries of said rollers in opposed substantially parallel planes, means for clamping said roller peripheries on opposite sides of sheet metal to be Worked, means for rotating one of said firstnamed roller supporting means and the roller carried thereby about an axis substantially perpendicular to said roller axis, the other of said roller supporting means being supported to freely swivel about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the roller carried thereby.

2. A sheet metal working device comprising, a roller assembly including a pair of axially aligned and axially spaced rollers journalled for rotation about their common axis, a third roller, mounting means journalling said third roller for rotation about its axis and positioning the periphery of said third roller in opposed substantially parallel relation to the peripheries of said rstnamed rollers, means resiliently clamping the peripheries of said first-named rollers and said third roller periphery on opposite sides of sheet metal to be worked, power motive means for rotating said roller assembly about an axis substantially perpendicular to said common roller axis and located between said iirst named rollers, said mounting means for said third roller being formed to freely swivel about an axis substantially perpendicular to said third roller axis and substantially aligned with said axis of rotation of said roller assembly.

3. A sheet metal working device comprising, a roller assembly including a pair of axially aligned and axially spaced rollers journalled for rotation about their common axis, a second roller assembly including a plurality of side by side axially aligned rollers journalled for rotation about their common axis, mounting means for said roller assemblies positioning said cornmon axes in spaced parallel planes and for resiliently clamping sheet metal to be worked between the opposed roller peripheries, power motive means for rotating said first named roller assembly about an axis substantially perpendicular to said rst named common roller axis and mounted between said spaced rollers of said assembly, said mounting means for said second assembly being formed to permit a free swiveling action of said second roller assembly about an axis substantially perpendicular to said common axis of the rollers thereof and substantially aligned with the said axis of rotation of said first named roller assembly.

4. A sheet metal working device comprising, a pair of rollers mounted in side by side relation and supported for rotation about axes in spaced parallel planes, means for resiliently clamping the opposed peripheries of said rollers on opposite sides of sheet metal to be worked and including a pneumatically operated piston for urging one of said rollers in the direction of the other roller, the supporting means for said rollers being journalled for rotation about substantially aligned axes perpendicular to said roller axes, and motor means for continuous, high speed rotation of one of said roller supporting means about its said axis of rotation, the other roller supporting means being free to swivel about its axis of rotation.

5. A sheet metal working device comprising, a substantially C-shaped frame having spaced ends in generally opposed position, an air motor carried by one of said ends and having a drive shaft extending in the direction of said other end, a roller assembly mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and including a pair of axially aligned and axially spaced rollers journalled for rotation about their common axis substantially perpendicular tov the axis of said shaft and arranged with said shaft axis extending between said rollers, a pneumatcally operated piston carried by said other frame end and extendable therefrom in the direction of said roller assembly, and a second roller assembly carried by said piston and journalled for rotation about an axis substantially aligned with the axis of extension of said piston and including a plurality of aligned rollers journalled for rotation about their common axis arranged substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said second assembly.

6. A sheet metal working device comprising, a substantially C-shaped frame having spaced ends in generally opposed position, a motor carried by one of said ends and having a rotary drive shaft extending therefrom in the direction of said other end, a roller assembly mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and including a pair of axially aligned and axially spaced rollers journalled for` rotation about their common axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, a work supporting member carried by the other end of said frame in opposed relation to the peripheries of said rollers, andmeans for resiliently clamping said roller peripheries and said work supporting member on opposite sides of sheet metal to be worked.

7. A sheet metal working device comprising, a substantially C-shaped frame having spaced ends in generally opposed position, a motor carried by one of said ends and having a rotary drive shaft extending therefrom in the direction of said other end, a roller assembly mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and including a pair of axially aligned and axially spaced rollers journalled for rotation about their common axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, a hollow casing extending from said motor concentric to said drive shaft and having an open end surrounding said roller assembly, a work supporting member carried by the other end of said frame in opposed relation to the peripheries of said rollers, and means for resiliently clamping said roller peripheries and said work supporting member on opposite sides of sheet metal to be worked.

ROY LEE HOLLAWAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 921,739 Rieske May 18, 1909 1,058,856 Gibbs Apr. 15, 1913 1,601,795 Glover Oct. 5, 1926 2,456,682 Dapprich Dec. 21, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 466,308 Germany Oct. 4, 1928 693,344 Germany July 6, 1940 864,956 France Feb. 10, 1941 

